Birthday
HydrangeasThis article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. Removing an old stump is hard, costly work. It is far more fun to turn it into a garden feature. Decorating with stumps, driftwood and roots is known as a stumpery, a style long popular in Europe: it adds a natural feel and turns a problem spot into a focal point.
Assessing and preparing the stump
A sound stump at least 30 cm across without deep rot works best. Knock on it: a dull sound and soft crumbly wood mean it is decaying and better suited to a moss or “mushroom” display than a planter. You can use the stump where it stands or a cut log section placed on a gravel base so the bottom doesn’t rot.
Consider the light: petunias, marigolds and sedums thrive in a sunny stump, while hostas, ferns, begonias and periwinkle suit shade under trees.
DIY stump planter, step by step
- Clean the stump of loose bark, moss and crumbly wood. Saw the top level if you want a flat surface.
- Hollow it out. Drill a ring of holes 4–6 cm in from the edge, 15–25 cm deep, with a wood or spade bit, then chisel out the centre. On large stumps a chainsaw with criss-cross cuts is faster.
- Add drainage: drill 1–2 holes through the base or a side channel near the bottom so water doesn’t pool.
- Treat the wood with a water-based preservative. Oil or exterior varnish on the outside will bring out the grain.
- Fit a liner — heavy plastic with holes in the bottom or a plastic pot — so the soil never touches the wood.
- Add 3–5 cm of drainage (clay pebbles or gravel) and top with potting mix.
- Plant and water well. Put trailing plants at the edge to spill over the sides.
What to plant in a stump
| Conditions | Plants |
|---|---|
| Sun | Petunia, calibrachoa, marigold, nasturtium, portulaca, sweet alyssum, verbena, pelargonium |
| Part shade | Begonia, busy lizzie, lobelia, viola, ageratum, ivy |
| Shade | Hosta, fern, periwinkle, bugle, heuchera, foamflower |
| Mini rockery | Sedums, houseleeks, saxifrages, jade plant, echeveria (summer) |
| Spring | Crocus, grape hyacinth, daffodils, tulips, primroses — plant bulbs in autumn |
A small volume of soil dries quickly, so water a stump planter almost daily in hot weather. Drought-tolerant sedums and houseleeks make care easier — see our guide to sedum varieties and care. For a carpet around the edge, try sweet alyssum.
10 more ways to decorate a stump
- Plant stand. The simplest option: level the top and set a large pot or basket of flowers on it.
- Fairy or gnome house. Carve a door and windows and add a roof of bark or tiles — a favourite with children.
- Mossy stump. In shade, cover the stump with moss and add ferns for a woodland corner.
- Mushroom glade. Decorative wooden, ceramic or plaster mushrooms on and around the stump.
- Climber support. Plant Virginia creeper, clematis or morning glory at the base — in a season it disappears under green.
- Garden table or stool. Sand and seal the top, add a tabletop and you have a spot for tea.
- Bird feeder or bath in a hollow in the stump.
- Sculpture. A wood carver can turn a tall stump into an owl, a bear or a fairy-tale character.
- Garden light: solar lanterns set into holes or inside a hollowed stump.
- Stumpery: several stumps of different heights with pots, stones and driftwood.
For more inspiration, see the world’s most unusual gardens and a DIY broken pot garden.
Making the stump last
- An untreated stump planter lasts 3–5 years; with preservative and a liner, 8–10 years or more.
- Renew the outside treatment every 1–2 years.
- Avoid standing water — a drainage hole is essential.
- In autumn remove the annuals and cover the top so rain and snow don’t collect inside.
- Cut off any bracket fungi — they speed up decay.
FAQ
How long will a stump planter last?
On average 5–10 years, depending on the wood, treatment and drainage. Oak and larch last longer than birch and poplar.
Do I need to treat the stump before planting?
Yes — a water-based preservative protects against rot and fungi. Inside, under the liner, use only plant-safe products.
Can I plant perennials in a stump?
You can, but in a small volume they exhaust the soil and overwinter poorly. It is easier to plant annuals each year or use a removable pot.
How can I get rid of a stump quickly?
Grind or pull it out with machinery, or speed up decay by drilling holes and filling them with a stump-rotting product. It takes from a few months to a year.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
